Orchid mycorrhizal interactions on the pacific side of the Andes from Chile. A review

In order to confront the constant decline in global biological diversity, amelioration strategies are needed for threatened species to design reintroduction policies, particularly in plants with critical reproduction steps, such as orchids. Orchids are part of a highly diverse plant family, with several species under imminent extinction risk. This is the case of Chilean Orchidaceae, which has shown a constant decay in their populations due to an increase in the alteration processes of their natural distribution habitats. Successful orchid reintroductions require a full understanding of orchid mycorrhizal fungi and their dynamic according to different developmental stages and environmental conditions because orchid seeds need mycorrhizal fungi to obtain nutritional compounds at early developmental stages. This article performed a critical literature review of the ecological studies conducted on Chilean orchids and their relationships with mycorrhizal fungi in order to focus on the best scientific approach to achieve successful restoration programs involving orchid seeds and compatible mycorrhizal fungi.This work was supported by the “Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico” of Chile (grant number 1170931 to C.A.) and the “Séptimo Concurso de Valorización de Investigacion en La Universidad, FONDEF VIU” of Chile (grant number 17E0185 to H.H.). This study is dedicated for the memory of the Professor of Environmental Microbiology, Yoav Bashan (1952–2018) of the Bashan Institute of Science, Auburn, USA.Peer Reviewe